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Could Boston Bruins Pastrnak Crack the 50-Goal Plateau This Season?

By Richard Jelinek

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Washington Capitals during the third period at the TD Garden on February 11, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Capitals won 2-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Washington Capitals during the third period at the TD Garden on February 11, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Capitals won 2-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak has been with the Bruins organization since his rookie year in 2014-15. When he stepped on NHL ice, he took control of his future by being offensively productive since day one. Can he finish the season strong with a new career high?

Pastrnak is one of the league’s elite goal scorers. He has a laser of a slap shot, a wrist shot the goaltender does not see coming, and he is talented enough to shoot the puck off of an opposing defenseman and into the net. Pastrnak does not have a certain way to score; he just uses his talents to rip one past the netminder. The question is, does he have enough in his repertoire to go into the playoffs on a high note?

The Boston Bruins are at the top of the NHL standings and playing elite hockey. Pastrnak is one of the reasons why the Bruins have been so successful, and he is also one of the top point producers in the league as well. Pastrnak is surrounded by 20 talented players, and they all make it look easy.

Can Boston Bruins Pastrnak lead the league in goals?

Pastrnak has a great chance of leading the league in goal-scoring and capturing his second Rocket Richard trophy. He first won the trophy in 2019/20 with a then career-high 48 goals. Playing on a line with center Patrice Bergeron and winger Brad Marchand, Pastrnak has 41 goals and 36 assists for 77 points in 56 games this season. He is currently one goal behind goal-scoring leader Connor McDavid, who has 42 goals.

With 26 games left, he needs nine goals or an average of a goal every 2.8 games, which is doable for Pastrnak. Of those 26 games left, 11 are against teams currently in a playoff or wild card position. Pastrnak currently has 281 goals with Boston, which is ninth in Boston Bruins history for goals scored.

As for the rest of the schedule and teams fighting for playoff positioning, Pastrnak has scored the most goals (20) against the Tampa Bay Lightning in only 30 games. The downside is the Bruins only play the Lightning once to finish out the 2023/24 schedule, and that game takes place on March 25th in Boston.

Not only is Pastrnak a deadly goal scorer, but he also has a knack for scoring timely goals as well. With the Bruins likely to remain in the top spot, look for Pastrnak to score some important goals down the stretch and not only reach the 50-goal plateau, but get close to 60.

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